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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this ageist?

35 replies

Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:15

Looking at graduate schemes, there are a lot in recruitment. One of the ads I clicked on when describing the advantages described them as a 'really young and sociable office'
I'm only in my early 30s, but even hearing that puts me off as I imagine everyone else being 21 or thereabouts and me being much older. Would you swerve something like this?
Afaik graduate schemes don't have an upper age limit? But I'm thinking that what if someone much older applied, would they be rejected as they don't fit in with the office?

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 11/12/2022 12:18

I don't know if it's ageist exactly, but it's certainly offputting for older people. I don't think it would have bothered me at 30 though, but it'd put me off now.

Original poster
Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:19

Yeah, I admit I don't think I'd like to be the only one in the office of my age group.

OP posts:
Notimeforaname · 11/12/2022 12:24

I think you're overthinking it.

panko · 11/12/2022 12:24

Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:19

Yeah, I admit I don't think I'd like to be the only one in the office of my age group.

Why that's ageist?

Gwenhwyfar · 11/12/2022 12:26

I think they're saying that non young people will not feel very comfortable and will feel out of place. It's a subtle way of saying middle aged and over need not apply.

Original poster
Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:27

I've never seen an ad like it before, so I'm writing to ask what people think. You never see it in other jobs that I know of

OP posts:
Frapped · 11/12/2022 12:28

Gwenhwyfar · 11/12/2022 12:26

I think they're saying that non young people will not feel very comfortable and will feel out of place. It's a subtle way of saying middle aged and over need not apply.

Which is ageist. They'd never do that with any other group.

Imagine trying to sell it as very white, or very old so that minorities or the young didn't apply.

Frapped · 11/12/2022 12:28

I don't think you're being unreasonable op and I'd write them and say that.

YellowTreeHouse · 11/12/2022 12:28

No, it’s not ageist. It’s just a description.

Itsthewhitehat · 11/12/2022 12:30

It’s not ageist as they are describing their culture/current demographic.

Yes it may put older people off. That maybe what they would like. Or maybe they want to ensure people understand the culture.

It’s ok for a company to have culture that doesn’t suit you. I wouldn’t apply as they clear feel socialising is a big thing. I hate socialising with work people, always have. I would be grateful they described it so I could swerve it

carefulcalculator · 11/12/2022 12:31

I view it as ageist, it is going to put off older applicants IMO whether deliberately or not.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 11/12/2022 12:31

It's subtly discriminatory, in that you have to read between the lines and see the message 'if you're over 35 this really isn't the place for you.' I've seen it a few times when there's a photo line up of staff and not one over 40.

Whether it's legal or not I have no idea.

Magentax · 11/12/2022 12:35

Itsthewhitehat · 11/12/2022 12:30

It’s not ageist as they are describing their culture/current demographic.

Yes it may put older people off. That maybe what they would like. Or maybe they want to ensure people understand the culture.

It’s ok for a company to have culture that doesn’t suit you. I wouldn’t apply as they clear feel socialising is a big thing. I hate socialising with work people, always have. I would be grateful they described it so I could swerve it

This is just factually wrong. It is not ok to have an office culture that “doesn’t suit” a particular protected demographic. It’s illegal. I am an in house lawyer at a company that has apprentices- I wouldn’t allow that to run.

Original poster
Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:37

They advertise for someone who has a 'big personality, very sociable and confident' which isn't wrong in itself but it doesn't describe me, so I won't apply

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2022 12:43

I’d have liked that heads up, some people aren’t very sociable so they can avoid it.

As for the age thing if you’re older then at least you know what sort of people work there and a decision can be made.

Roll up on your first day to find you are twenty years older than the rest of the work place wouldn’t be great, if you don’t want to work with younger people.

Penaltyshootoutfan · 11/12/2022 12:43

Couldn’t get worked up about this, it’s likely just an accurate description of the demographic. It sounds like it’s not your kind of job or place and that’s fine. It will be for others, and other places will suit you. That’s why accurate descriptions are important, it saves everyone wasting their time

panko · 11/12/2022 12:45

Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2022 12:43

I’d have liked that heads up, some people aren’t very sociable so they can avoid it.

As for the age thing if you’re older then at least you know what sort of people work there and a decision can be made.

Roll up on your first day to find you are twenty years older than the rest of the work place wouldn’t be great, if you don’t want to work with younger people.

Not wanting to work with younger people is ageist.

Original poster
Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:52

I don't think it is. It's like saying wanting to have friends closer to your own age is ageist. But since it's a protected characteristic i think it's ageist to deny someone a job based on it.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2022 12:54

panko · 11/12/2022 12:45

Not wanting to work with younger people is ageist.

Show quote history

I don’t think it is. Some people prefer to work with people of a similar age or at least a mix of ages.

It’s not unreasonable to not want to be 20-30 years older than everyone else in the office IMO.

mamabear715 · 11/12/2022 12:55

Most of my friends are younger than me (but I'm a Capricorn, we get younger as we get older!) so I wouldn't let it put me off.. I'd be just thinking it's got a good work dynamic?

Ragwort · 11/12/2022 12:55

I tend to agree with you, my DS is a Uni student and applying for those sorts of jobs. Being a supportive mum nosey I have spent a lot of time looking carefully at the websites and their descriptions of the work culture, expectations etc .... I expect they don't really want 'older' people applying .. and the starting salary is pretty low as it's all based on commission.

Sparklingbrook · 11/12/2022 12:56

Rolaskatox · 11/12/2022 12:52

I don't think it is. It's like saying wanting to have friends closer to your own age is ageist. But since it's a protected characteristic i think it's ageist to deny someone a job based on it.

Yes there’s no way of knowing whether that’s what they do. You’d hope not but you can’t tell.

PAFMO · 11/12/2022 12:56

I'm (one of ) the first on here to point ageism out, but in this case, no, I don't think so.
Graduate schemes are "marketed" at recent graduates, there's usually a clearly defined internal progress structure, lots of on the job training, and an unwritten expectation that you'll stay, learn, and move up the ladder. A 57 year old like me wouldn't look at a graduate training scheme because I don't want to go back to being at the bottom.

(I was graduate civil service entry in 1991.)

Bosk · 11/12/2022 12:58

Yes, this is clearly ageist.

it's rather depressing that so many people can't see it, tbh.

Purplecatshopaholic · 11/12/2022 12:58

Hmm. Age is a protected characteristic so using the word ‘young’ in an advert could defo be construed as risky. Would you say ‘white, sociable office’, rather than young, even if factually correct. No, well I hope not anyway…

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